Putting herself in the dock

IN Media Watch Briefs | 01/12/2010
A visibly disturbed Barkha Dutt  decided to let herself be questioned by four journalists on her controversial role in the Radia Tapes, on Nov. 30. While it was a brave performance she did not answer two crucial questions adequately.  One, posed repeatedly by Manu Joseph, Editor,Open -why did she fail to report that a corporate PR was lobbying for Cabinet position for A Raja both in 2009 and 2010. No answer except to say that she did not think it was a story ! And Swapan Dasgupta  asked :" People often call me up and give me messages to convey to the BJP leaders because they think I am close to the BJP..was Niira Radia asking you to carry her message to the Congress party because she assumes you are close to the Congress party?"  Barkha said "interesting question!" but failed to answer it.
 
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The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.                   

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.                 

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